What do we protect, the integrity of capitalism or the health of the community?

These questions lie at the root of poems by Thomas Merton, Denise Levertov, and Keith Garebian. Set by Gregory Spears in a new 30-minute work for strings and choir,

The Tower and The Garden,

they also ask us to consider the relationship between technological innovation and its dangers that often lead to haunting sociological change.

Also on the program:

The world premiere of Philadelphia composer James Primosch's
Carthage, which sets an excerpt from Marilynne Robinson's
Housekeeping, an exploration of the balancing effect of desire and longing on our lives; and two additional works written for The Crossing,
Toivo Tulev's A child said, what is the grass?and Joel Puckett's dizzying, entrancing I enter the earth.

The Tower and The Garden original artwork by The Crossing tenor Steven Bradshaw,